Method for managing printed medium activated revenue sharing domain name system schemas

ABSTRACT

A method for bridging the gap between the virtual multimedia-based Internet world and the physical world of tangible object media, such as print media. More particularly, a method for managing a domain name service based on initiating a communication from an object containing provider information using a scanner, a portal server and a receiver connected across a network. The method involves scanning a machine-readable code containing a link information corresponding to the provider information from the object using the scanner and storing the machine-readable code in a memory. The link information is then extracted from the machine readable code in the memory. A user input information corresponding to the provider information is also obtained and stored in the memory. The link information and the user input information are then sent to the portal server via the network. The portal server receives the link information and user input information and selects a multimedia information sequence corresponding to the link information and the user input information. The multimedia information sequence is then sent to the receiver via the network. The receiver receives and stores the multimedia information sequence plays the sequence automatically or in response to a stimulus, such as a user request.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is related to U.S. application Ser. No.09/236,176 (Attorney Docket No. 9469-2), filed Jan. 25, 1999 andentitled “PRINTED MEDIUM ACTIVATED INTERACTIVE COMMUNICATION OFMULTIMEDIA INFORMATION, INCLUDING ADVERTISING.”

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention is related to a method for bridging the gapbetween the virtual multimedia-based Internet world and the physicalworld of tangible object media. More particularly, the invention relatesto a method for managing a domain name service based on initiating acommunication from an object containing provider information using ascanner, a portal server and a receiver connected across a network.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Each server connected to the Internet has associated with it atleast one unique Internet protocol (IP) address. The IP address istypically represented by a series of four numbers each separated by aperiod, such as “192.33.44.1” and is translated into a domain name by aDomain Name Server also known as a domain name service (“DNS”). The DNSis a static, hierarchical name service that maintains a database forresolving host names and IP addresses. For example, the numeric IPaddress “209.224.235.137” is converted by the DNS into the domain name“CLIC-THRU.COM”. This conversion allows users to connect to remotecomputers by inputting host names as well as IP addresses.

[0004] Until recently, only one company, Network Solutions, Inc. (NSI),was charged with allocating and administering DNS. Thus, any entityinterested in obtaining a DNS entry had to register with NSI byproviding, among other things, a unique alphanumeric sequence (e.g.“CLIC-THRU.COM”) which NSI would associated with an internet protocol(IP) address (e.g. 209.224.235.137). Recently, businesses other that NSIhave been permitted to register DNS entries. The invention describedherein provides for an alternative to the present DNS schema by using asystem which incorporates scanner technology to manage the DNS.

[0005] Scanner technology has been used for many years in many contexts.By way of example, scanners are used in supermarkets, with personalcomputers, and in inventory, manufacturing, and resource controlsystems. However, scanner technology has not previously been thought ofas a means to bridge the gap between static printed media and the“virtual world” of interactivity, which includes the Internet,advertising, entertainment, and electronic commerce.

[0006] Printed media have been the primary source of communicatinginformation, including news and advertising information, for centuries.The advent of the Internet over the past few decades has expanded theconcept of printed media by making it available in an electronicallyreadable and searchable form and by introducing interactive multi-mediacapabilities unparalleled by traditional printed media Unfortunately,many users of printed media do not possess the requisite technicalexpertise to use the Internet as an efficient source of information.Thus, although almost everyone in the world has access to printed mediaon a daily basis, only a small percentage of those people possess therequisite technical expertise to use the Internet.

[0007] There exists a need for managing a DNS that can link all users ofprinted media and tangible object media to the “virtual world” and thatcan deliver desired information to the user without regard to the user'stechnical expertise, knowledge of IP addresses or domain names. Thepresent invention provides such a method by using scanner technology tobridge the gap between tangible object media, the virtual world ofinteractivity and the Internet. Moreover, managing a DNS using a systemas described herein enables those controlling the tangible object media,such as print media, to enhance their presentation of information totheir customers by providing them with a multimedia experienceunavailable in traditional printed media.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention comprises a method for managing a domainname service based on initiating a communication from an objectcontaining provider information via a network, such as the Internet, anintranet, or an extranet, which connects a scanner, a portal server, anda receiver. The method involves scanning a machine-readable codecontaining a link information corresponding to the provider informationfrom the object using the scanner and storing the machine-readable codein a memory. The link information is then extracted from the machinereadable code in the memory. A user input information corresponding tothe provider information is also obtained and stored in the memory. Thelink information and the user input information are then sent to theportal server via the network. The portal server receives the linkinformation and user input information and selects a multimediainformation sequence corresponding to the link information and the userinput information. The multimedia information sequence is then sent tothe receiver via the network. The receiver receives and stores themultimedia information sequence plays the sequence automatically or inresponse to a stimulus, such as a user request.

[0009] In one embodiment of a system executing a method of theinvention, the scanner and the receiver comprises a single device. Inanother embodiment, the scanner communicates with the portal serverdirectly, and customer premises equipment (“CPE”), serving as thereceiver, plays multimedia sequence information received from the portalserver. In a further embodiment, the CPE operates as both a scanner anda receiver. The multimedia sequence information may be advertising ortransaction information and may contain one or more of textual, audio,or video information.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment of a system executing a method of theinvention, the scanner includes a memory, a user interface, and acommunications bridge. The scanner may be, for example, a remotecontrol, a mouse, a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant, apersonal computer, a pager, or a two-way pager. The scanner detects andreads data, such as machine-readable codes containing link informationcorresponding to provider information from the printed medium. Aplurality of codes may be stored in the scanner, the receiver, and theportal server. The link information corresponding to the providerinformation may include, for example, a universal resource locator, anInternet address information, trademark information, a source of origin,an organization name, a product name, a service name, benefit redemptioninformation, provider defined information, user personal profileinformation, user interest information, server command information, andcustomer premises equipment preference information.

[0011] The user interface obtains user input information, such as anadvertising authorization, a transaction authorization, user personalprofile information, and user interest information corresponding to theprovider information. The user input information may be received andstored by either the scanner, the receiver, or the portal server. Thescanner routes the link information and the user input information basedupon a user request via the user interface. The user interface may be,for example, a voice-activated system, a keypad, or a keyboard. In oneembodiment of a system executing a method of the invention, the userinterface may reside on any one or more of the scanner, the receiver,such as customer premises equipment for displaying the multimediasequence information, or the portal server.

[0012] The communications bridge sends the link information and the userinput information to the receiver and, via the network, to the portalserver. An infrared communications system, a mobile radio communicationssystem, or an IP-based communications system are exemplary of thecommunications bridge.

[0013] The portal server is in communication with the scanner or thereceiver via the network. In one embodiment of a system executing amethod of the invention, the portal server is accessible via theInternet to any Internet user. In another embodiment, the portal serveris accessible only by the provider of information. The portal server iscapable of receiving the link information and the user inputinformation, selecting a multimedia information sequence correspondingto the link information and the user input information, and sending themultimedia information sequence via the network to the receiver. Theportal server is further capable of tracking link informationcorresponding to a user, including a universal resource locator,Internet address information, a trademark information, a source oforigin, an organization name, a product name, a service name, a benefitredemption information, a provider defined information, a user personalprofile information, a user interest information, a server commandinformation, and a customer premises equipment preference information.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of a system executing a method of theinvention, the portal server is further capable of tracking a percentageof a fee to be charged to the information provider based on, forexample, the selected multimedia information sequence, the number andfrequency of the link information received by the portal servercorresponding to a particular information provider, or the transactionvalue in the event the selected multimedia information sequencegenerates a transaction.

[0015] In another embodiment of a system executing a method of theinvention, the portal server is further capable of tracking a percentageof a fee to be charged to the information provider based on, forexample, the selected multimedia information sequence and either of theuser personal profile information or the user interest information. Theportal server is further capable of auctioning the user interestinformation according to a user defined auction criteria in the userpersonal profile information to an information provider. The userpersonal profile information may be stored on the portal server.

[0016] The receiver is in communication with the scanner and the portalserver, and is capable of receiving the link and user input information,receiving a multimedia information sequence, and playing the multimediainformation sequence. The receiver may be a CPE, such as a television, aset top box, a computer, a cell telephone, a remote control, a personaldigital assistant, an integrated PC-TV device (e.g. Web TV) or a pager.

[0017] A system executing a method of the invention may further comprisea code tracking module for tracking ranges of unique codes which can(but do not necessarily have to include) one or more of embeddedtemplate calls for interactivity, references to the publisher, mediaoriginator, ad placement, date of publication, dealer, and otherprovider information. A method of the invention may include one or moreof the steps of tracking licensing fees corresponding to licensing thecodes to third parties, tracking the advertising used in connection withthe codes, and collecting the demographics or indigraphics (i.e.individual demographics) corresponding to the use of the codes. A methodmay also include tracking a licensing fee for use of the link tableinformation. By way of example, a system executing a method of theinvention may be capable of tracking the fact of a person scanning theback of a manufacturer's notebook computer, and either maintaining themultimedia request for information with or for the manufacturer, orauctioning that information to a third party, such as a competitor.

[0018] The code tracking module may further be capable of trackingcommercial transactions involving leasing the link table(s) associatedwith the code. A method of the invention may include automaticallynotifying a manufacturer of an object bearing the code of the scan. Amethod of the invention may also include tracking and aggregating allscanned information (i.e. the codes.)

[0019] Any one of the scanner, the receiver, or the portal server may becapable of supporting downloadable applets and/or templates to provideadditional functionality and interactivity. These elements could alsosupport Java applets or work with Jini enabled devices. That is, thesystem can use and extend the Jini technology.

[0020] A method of the invention includes the steps of receiving thecode in alphanumeric format (e.g. a combination of numbers and lettersprinted in conjunction with the machine-readable code) at the userinterface and presenting the resulting or corresponding multimediasequence.

[0021] A preferred method of the invention uses the system as describedas an alternative method for managing the present DNS schema. Thus, thetypical alphanumeric sequence (i.e. CLIC-THRU.COM) may be supplementedor substituted with machine-readable code, which may contain any digitalinformation such as executable code, the templates, or other digitalcontent such as video, audio, or text data. The code may be transparentor non-transparent. In one embodiment of a system executing a method ofthe invention, the code may link through a URL which then links to an IPaddress. In another embodiment, the code may link to an IP address whichin turn links to a URL.

[0022] Under this schema, a method of the invention includes chargingcompanies for signing up for the alternate DNS and tracking their use ofthe system. The method may also include linking to the ordinary DNSsites. When the system is deployed under the subject invention, the linktables aggregated across the system for resolving the multimedia contentlocations establish the alternate DNS.

[0023] A preferred method of the invention includes the step of trackingthe purchasers based on transaction size and frequency and matching thesize and frequency to a scanner device such that the device cost issubsidized based on the size and frequency of the transaction.

[0024] In an embodiment, a system executing a method of the inventionincludes a credit card module for working in conjunction with a creditcard company. The credit card module is capable of tracking transactionsand corresponding referrals. It is further capable of online access tocredit limits for transactions including shopping. Its trackingcapabilities may include tracking the size and frequency of purchasesand corresponding purchasers. The credit card module may be furthercapable of two-way communication such as obtaining credit and balanceinformation and maintaining transactions and other similarfunctionality. The system may further contain an affinity informationtracking module whereby the module maintains benefit redemption,frequent flyer, or similar affinity information.

[0025] In an embodiment, a system executing a method of the invention isfurther capable of use in conjunction with directory listings, such asthe yellow pages, whereby the printed medium is, for example, the yellowpages book.

[0026] In an embodiment, a method of the invention includes the step oftracking fees corresponding to transactions initiated via a scan wherebyeveryone along the consumption and distribution food chains gets paid apercentage of the transaction. The food chain may include portalproviders, hardware manufacturers with imbedded scanning technology ofthe present invention, bandwidth carriers (e.g. telephone, cable, andsatellite), media companies, ad firms, persons placing the ad, storeswhere the transaction was initiated, information providers, and anyother parties facilitating the transactions. The store may be a virtualstore whereby the store owner only leases one or more link table entry,and links to an ordinary distributor for the balance of the transaction.

[0027] In another embodiment, a method of the invention includes thestep of tracking one or more of the purchasers or e-commercetransactions based on the transaction size and frequency, and matchingthe size and frequency to a second product or service device such that acost of the second product or service is subsidized based on the sizeand frequency of the transaction initiated via a scan. By way ofexample, a long distance phone company may be able to bolster its longdistance offerings by selling value based services, as can ISP's, andpaging companies. By way of another example, a company could offer freeor subsidized services (e.g. Internet access) based on a percentage ofe-commerce transactions, the ability to sell them as a combined market,or the ability to do targeted and micro-segmented advertising.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028]FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of a system performing a method ofthe present invention using a receiver to communicate with both ascanner and a portal server.

[0029]FIG. 2 depicts an embodiment of a system performing a method ofthe present invention wherein the scanner communicates with a portalserver directly without a receiver.

[0030]FIG. 3 depicts an embodiment of a system performing a method ofthe present invention wherein the scanner and the customer premisesequipment are integrated into one device.

[0031]FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment of a system performing a method ofthe present invention wherein the a customer premises equipment isseparate from the receiver and the scanner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032]FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of a system performing a method ofthe present invention including three components: a scanner 100, areceiver 180, and a portal server 200. In one embodiment, the scanner100 and the receiver 180 comprise into a single device. In anotherembodiment, the scanner 100 communicates with the portal server 200directly, and a customer premises equipment (“CPE”) 300, serving as thereceiver 180, plays multimedia sequence information received from theportal server 200.

[0033] The scanner 100 may be a handheld device, preferably, but notnecessarily, wireless. The scanner 100 may be, for example, an enhancedexisting electronic device, a TV remote control, a mouse, a cell phone,a PC card device, a palmtop, a calculator, a key chain, a pen, anidentification card, a smart card, a hand held GPS device, a desktop orlaptop computer, a digital appliance, a microprocessor-based device., apersonal digital assistant, a pager or a two-way pager.

[0034] The scanner 100 is capable of reading data such as non-coded dataand machine-readable code 10 from the printed medium 50. Themachine-readable code 10 may be a barcode, an enhanced barcode, a newenhanced code, or any type of code, including dynamic codes and highdensity barcodes.

[0035] The code 10 contains a link information corresponding to aprovider information from a printed medium 50. The link information maycorrespond to a universal resource locator (“URL”), an Internet addressinformation, network address information, a trademark information, asource of origin, an organization name, a product name, a service name,a benefit redemption information, a provider defined information, a userpersonal profile information (i.e., “a cookie”), a user interestinformation, a server command information, and a customer premisesequipment preference information.

[0036] The link information may be an alphanumeric sequence printed inform of the machine-readable code 10. The alphanumeric sequence may beassigned to the printed medium 50 by the provider 600 and may be encodedaccording to the provider's 600 preference. The alphanumeric sequencemay activate and result in the playing of the multimedia sequenceinformation 500. For example, a machine-readable code 10 on the printedadvertisement for an automobile may translate into the followingalphanumeric sequence “A001B0990799A5557ZQZ6898”. The “A001” designationmay correspond to a template on the scanner 100 enabling Ford to presenta person with a user input information asking whether the person isinterested in advertisements, transactions, or both. The “B099”designation may refer to a type and name of the magazine which carriedthe ad. The “0799” designation may refer to July 1999 issue fromadvertiser A5557 which might be a local automobile dealer. The “ZQZ6898”designation may be the network code and could refer to a network addressat the portal server 200 or to a link table. Existing UPC or ISBNnumbers may serve as the alphanumeric sequence. At least one of thescanner 100, the receiver 180, or the portal server 200, may extract theprovider information from such alphanumeric sequence and translate itinto a network address at the portal server 200 or a link table.

[0037] The code 10 comprises at least one of the link information, and apublication information (i.e. where the information was published orlocated), along with a demographic and other advertising ormessage-specific information provided by a provider 600. The code 10 mayalso comprise personal and provider security information.

[0038] A method of the invention includes using the system to collectand manage code 10 that lacks link information. This linkless codeinformation may be added to the cookie along with any additional userinput information. The code 10 is capable of being read by a scanner 100or a transducer generating and transmitting the link information basedupon a stimulus. The scanner 100 or transducer is capable ofdifferentiating between information and data contained within code 10.One type of the code 10 may be an information-only type that would linkto an information page. A simple example of this would be a scanneduniversal product code (“UPC”) printed on a can of food linking a personusing the system to the manufacturer's information on nutrition, recipe,or transaction information. The system can also process UPC codes bydirecting them to a link table to resolve the link without any addedcodes. The system is capable of processing the ISBN number codes, UPCcodes and any codes currently in use.

[0039] More complex interactive codes could be routed based on any ofthe scanned information in combination with user personal profileinformation (i.e.“a cookie”), user interactive responses from the userinput information, the person's location or other demographicinformation and a portal server database 210 information. The cookiecomprises a person's identifying information such as name, address,credit card(s) information, and other related information. Cookies maybe stored on the scanner 100, the receiver 180, or the portal server200. Other information that may be combined with the code 10 includesexecutable code downloaded from the portal server 200 or provider 600,and user input information that could further supplement the scannedinformation from code 10 by eliciting an interactive response from theperson using the system.

[0040] One exemplary code corresponds to reordering information suchthat a reordering of a product may be activated by scanning the code 10,recognizing it as a reorder, and maintaining a transaction via theportal server 200 such that a percentage of a fee for the reorder ismaintained by a fee tracking module 220. In an embodiment, the fee isshared with the person placing the transaction. In another example, anHMO pharmacy could encode patient information, medication information,and refill information onto a printed label of medication upon itsdispensing. The information would be represented by code 10. Scanner 100would read the code 10 and validate the personal information containedin the code 10 against the user personal profile information stored oneither the scanner 100, the receiver 180, the portal server 200, or aprovider 600. Once the validation is complete, the system allows forsecure transactions to proceed, including authenticated refills,recording the transaction and maintaining an accounting of a percentageof a fee for the refill using the tracking module 220.

[0041] A method of the present invention contemplates using additionalcode types such as phone numbers, business card, service information,benefit redemption information, rebate, coupon, literature, or anygeneral information category of interest to a person or informationprovider 600. The information contained in the additional code types maybe uploaded to the scanner 100, receiver 180, or portal server 200 onceor sent locally or with cookie and security information from anywhere inthe network. The processing of codes 10, including additional codetypes, may optionally but not necessarily be done at a time differentfrom reading and scanning the printed medium 50. In a preferredembodiment, the scanner 100 generates and stores a code file in memory110 representing a collection of codes scanned by the operator in anygiven time period. The scanner 100 uploads the coded file in memory 110to the receiver 180 according to a user initiated stimulus. For example,a user may find four advertisements of interest in a printed medium 50,such as a magazine. The scanner 100 could read the four codes 10 fromthe magazine advertisements and store them in the memory 110.Subsequently, at a time convenient to the user, the user can upload theinformation to the receiver 180 for processing.

[0042] The information in the code 10 could be simple data or complexdata-type-plus data, such as encoded, printed multimedia information. AUPC code is an example of simple data. The information used by thesystem can also be non-coded or raw. For example, a universal resourcelocator (“URL”) is non-coded data, but when encoded as a URL-type code10, the information in the code 10 may be processed.

[0043] A method of the invention uses unique code templates forinteractivity which contain transaction information, authorizationinformation, references to the publisher, media originator, adplacement, date of publication, dealer, reseller or distributor. Thesystem is capable of tracking the scans according to the code types usedin scanning these ads and collecting the demographics. A method of theinvention may also include the steps of tracking and redirecting theusage of the codes 10 by different information providers 600 based onthe content of the printed information. For example, a person scans anidentifying code 10 related to a brand of computer. The computermanufacturer would like to direct the person to its information site.However, the person who performed the scan or portal server 200 thatprocessed the scan, may choose to auction off the instance of the scanto a competitor, thereby allowing the competitor to bid for the right totransmit more information to the person about the competitor'scomparable product or a transaction, such as user interest information.

[0044] Another method of the invention includes communicating withdigital copyright databases bearing the code in tangible format. Forexample, an article that includes the code 10 may direct a personwanting to copy the article to the copyright database. The method mayinclude the steps of charging the person a fee and suggesting relatedarticles based on the information in the code 10. The method may alsoinclude the steps of monitoring the commercial, office, and copyingequipment connected to the network that processes the code, and thenactivating the access to the copyrighted materials database. In thatcontext, the code serves as an intelligent watermark capable of carryingthe article identifying information, distribution information, and feerelated information.

[0045] Preferably, the code 10 features a small footprint, an attractiveappearance, a high density of information, and ease of scanning. Forexample the footprint may be a triangle shaped code with a logo and anindicator of what type of code 10 it is (information, e-commerce, orboth). The identifying characteristics of the presentation of the code10 signify that the code is not an ordinary advertisement, but part ofan enhanced information medium leading to multiple dimensions ofmultimedia information sequences 500.

[0046] The scanner 100 can transmit the code 10 to a receiver 180, suchas a television, a set top box, a computer, a cell telephone, a remotecontrol, a personal digital assistant, an integrated PC-TV device (e.g.,Web TV), a pager or two-way pager, or directly to the portal server 200.The receiver 180 is in communication with a network, such as theInternet or other network, and can direct or link a person to a specificnetwork address or site based on the machine-readable code or codes 10contained in the scanned information from the printed medium 50.

[0047] For example, the provider information depicted on a printedmedium 50 may be advertising information for an automobile. Themanufacturer of the automobile would be provider 600. The linkinformation in code 10 from the printed advertisement may includenetwork address information, such as for example the manufacturer's website. Processing the link information may result in playing a multimediainformation sequence 500 on the receiver 180 provided by provider 600.Additionally or in the alternative, the network address information maypoint to a file containing executable computer code which could bedownloaded or executed remotely then displayed on the receiver 180 orscanner 100. One or more link table(s) (not shown) may also be used tofacilitate a two-way communication between the provider 600 and receiver180. A link table containing network codes and associated networkaddress information, for example, may be accessed to process linkinformation containing only the network code. The link table associatesthe network code to a network address information to facilitate theconnection between provider 600 and receiver 180. Link information mayalso be cascaded via the link table(s). Link tables may be located on orbe accessible to the receiver 180, the portal server 200, or theprovider 600. The machine-readable code 10 can also link the persondirectly to a specific Internet address without accessing a link table.

[0048] In a preferred embodiment of a system executing a method of theinvention, the scanner 100 includes a memory 110, a user interface 120,and a communications bridge 130.

[0049] The user interface 120 obtains user input information, such as anadvertising authorization, a transaction authorization, a user personalprofile information, and a user interest information corresponding tothe provider information. The user input information may be received andstored in the scanner memory 110, the receiver 180, or the portal server200. The scanner 100 routes the link information and the user inputinformation based upon a user request via the user interface 120. Theuser interface 120 may be, for example, a voice-activated system, akeypad, or a keyboard. In one embodiment, the user interface 120 mayreside on any one or more of the scanner 100, the receiver 180, such asa customer premises equipment (“CPE”) 300 for displaying the multimediasequence information 500, or the portal server 200.

[0050] The communications bridge 130 sends the link information and theuser input information to the receiver 180 and, via the network, to theportal server 200. An infrared communications system, a mobile radiocommunications system, or an IP-based communications system areexemplary of the communications bridge.

[0051] The scanner 100 comprises a handheld component in a preferredembodiment. The handheld component may comprise an enhanced existingdevice like a TV remote control, a mouse, a cell phone, a REX device, apalmtop, a calculator, a key chain, a pen, an identification card, asmart card, a hand held global positioning system (“GPS”) device, adesktop or laptop computer or virtually any other digital appliance or amicroprocessor based device. The scanner 100 could be a proximity-baseddevice that would activate a smart button, which is a device having amemory and a communicator to upload the information in the memory to anetwork, or a contact-based device. For example, scanner 100 may beeither an optical scanner or a transducer, respectively. The scanner 100may have several modes, such as scan and process, scan and hold, andscan and display. The scanner 100 may also have a mode allowing copyingof the code 10 for backup or review and edit. The scanner 100 may alsohave a light and/or a sound indicator for confirming that a valid scanoccurred. The scanner 100 may also have transmit and receive indicatorsfor confirming that a valid scan occurred. Optionally, the scanner 100could communicate with another scanner 100 to exchange link, code, orcookie information.

[0052]FIG. 3 depicts the scanner 100 as part of an integrated dedicatedunit 400 which includes a memory 420, a microprocessor (not shown),stored templates containing the link and cookie information (not shown),a display 430, a cable (not shown), and a wireless transmitting device440, such as infrared, visual or radio frequency. The dedicated unit 400could contain any subset of these components or include other componentsas depicted in FIGS. 2 and 4.

[0053] A method of the invention includes the steps of scanning encodedinformation from the embedded codes 10 and uploading these codes to theportal server 200 for immediate or delayed processing or for reference.A method may also include allowing print advertisers to track theirimpressions to execution and to collect demographic information aboutthe person performing the scan through a tracking module 220. Thetracking module 220 is illustrated in FIG. 1 as part of the portalserver 200. However, it may reside in any of the 100, 180, 400, 300,200, or 600 components of the system. The tracking module 220 is furthercapable of tracking the transaction value of e-commerce transactionsoriginating from a specific publication, type of publication, orprovider 600 and calculate fee percentages based on the transaction. Forexample, the scanner 100 may comprise a clock capable of tracking thetime the ad was scanned. In an embodiment where scanner 100 is a GPS,the geographical location where the scan occurred may also be tracked. Amethod of the invention also contemplates transmitting bio-metricinformation according and to the extent permitted by the user personalprofile information. The combination of all tracking informationcomprises ad read-scan context information which may be transmitted tothe portal server 200 or to the provider 600 according to and to theextent permitted by the user personal profile information.

[0054] The receiver 180 is in communication with the scanner 100, andportal server 200 via wire, or through wireless technology such asinfrared, light based transmission, radio frequency, or satellite. Thereceiver 180 could be incorporated into or be a computer, a cell phone,a pager, a remote control, a personal digital assistant, a simplebuffer, or use a direct link. The receiver 180 could also beincorporated into existing devices such as a television, a set top box,a Web TV device, a VCR, a Digital Versatile Disc (“DVD”) player, anappliance, a customer premises equipment (“CPE”) 300, or any otherelectronic device. The receiver 180 may, but not necessarily, collect,sort and prioritize the transmissions of link and user inputinformation. The receiver 180 could queue up these transmissions orprocess them immediately. The receiver 180 could also contain at leastone cookie, and received time information, as well as other informationincluding receiver or provider specific information.

[0055] In one embodiment of a system performing a method of theinvention, the receiver 180 forwards the raw scanned codes 10 directlyto the portal server 200 or other site such as a provider 600 via aportal server 200. In another embodiment, the receiver 180 collects,stores, processes, and forwards the scanned code information along withthe cookie and other state dependant information, such as time,temperature, and location, to the network.

[0056] The receiver 180 may be multi-functional and include multipleinputs such as radio frequency and infrared. The receiver 180 may alsoincorporate X-10, wireless, wired, and power-line networking to link tomultiple units or, for larger installations, at least one repeater. Thereceiver 180 may also incorporate wireless, wire-line, or power-linelinks to at least one local computer or CPE 300.

[0057] In embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the CPE 300 may functionas a queue processor or pre-processor. Also a user may enter informationusing the CPE 300, including user personal profile information. Inanother embodiment, scanned codes 10 are processed by the CPE 300according to user preferences. By way of example, the CPE 300 couldprocess the codes 10 automatically and sequentially as the codes 10 arereceived, or store the codes 10 in a queue to be processed at theconvenience of the user. Cookies may be stored on one or more of the CPE300, the scanner 100, and the receiver 180. The CPE 300 receives thescanned code 10, including the link information from scanner 100, andtransmits the code 10 to the portal server 200. The portal server 200resolves the link information and sets up a path from a location on thenetwork, such as a specific web address, Internet site, or provider 600location, to the receiver 180. The location sends information, such asmultimedia information sequences 500, along the path to the receiver 180for display and playback.

[0058] A system for performing a method of the present inventioncontemplates at least one portal server 200. The portal server 200 maybe a single site or multiple sites. The portal server 200 is incommunication with the scanner 100 and the receiver 180 via the networkand centrally manages, assigns, and controls the codes 10, code typesand information from the printed media 50. The portal server 200 iscapable of receiving the link information and the user inputinformation, selecting a multimedia information sequence 500corresponding to the link information and the user input information,and sending the multimedia information sequence 500 via the network tothe receiver 180.

[0059] One advantage of the method of the invention is the minimalamount of information needed to be scanned to link to a specificlocation when using a link information database including cookies at theportal server 200. The portal server 200 processes code 10 which maycontain levels of embedded information, and references information, suchas database information provided by providers 600, advertisers, andinformation providers. The information contained in scanned code 10 maybe combined with at least one of the user input information, the cookie,state dependant information, ad read-scan context information and othertransmitted information to link the portal server 200 to at least onelocation on the network and complete a transaction, such as a requestfor information or an e-commerce transaction.

[0060] In one embodiment of a system performing a method of theinvention, the portal server 200 is adapted to receive and processrequests from a user who provides the portal server 200 with raw code 10through a communications device such as a keyboard, a telephone, a voiceactivated system, or a modem. In this embodiment, a user can initiatethe interactive communication of multimedia information without usingscanner 100. In a further embodiment, the scanner 100 may access theportal server via a telephone dial system. For example, after scanning,a user may use a telephone to communicate the scanner 100 to thenetwork. Once data has been transferred, the user may use a voice menusystem to control the remainder of the transaction, such as the receiptof sound only multimedia information, or engaging in a transaction. Inanother embodiment, the portal server 200 has a single common databaseof links for print and electronic transactions. The database of linksmay be accessed by users of the system, such as advertisers, print mediaowners, and information providers 600.

[0061] A tracking module 220 in the portal server 200 can track linkinformation corresponding to a user, such as a universal resourcelocator, an Internet address information, a trademark information, asource of origin, an organization name, a product name, a service name,a benefit redemption information, a provider defined information, a userpersonal profile information, a user interest information, a servercommand information, and a customer premises equipment preferenceinformation.

[0062] The tracking module 220 is also capable of tracking feesassociated with every ad and every transaction originating on thenetwork via the portal server 200. Fees may be based on, for example,the selected multimedia information sequence, the number and frequencyof the link information received by the portal server corresponding to aparticular information provider, or the transaction value in the eventthe selected multimedia information sequence generates a transaction.The fee tracking module 220 can track fees relating to at least onee-commerce transaction originating from the scan.

[0063] A provider management module 230 and a statistics module 240 inthe portal server 200 maintain advertising information and transactionsgenerated from the providers 600 that originate independent of a scanbased on user personal profile information. Thus, the invention allowsadvertisers to broadcast to users of the portal server 200 according tothe user personal profile information or portal server configuration.The provider management module 230 is capable of providing feed back tothe providers regarding the effectiveness of the provider's printedmedia 50, and allows for flexible, real-time message tuning.

[0064] An individual demographics (“indigraphics”) module (not shown) inthe portal server 200 performs user personal profile informationmanagement functions, such as marking and publishing auction orientedinformation based on the user personal profile and interest information.

[0065] A funds management module (not shown) in the portal server 200manages and facilitates fund transactions between users of the system.The funds management module processes information from the other modulesin the portal server 200, such as the tracking module 220. Preferably,the funds management module uses a form of electronic funds transfer,such as Ecash, to accept and distribute funds according to informationreceived form the tracking module 220.

[0066] For example, in a system capable of performing a method of theinvention, a person can scan an ordinary black and white automobileadvertisement placed in a newspaper by a local dealer that is enhancedwith code 10. Shortly thereafter, the person experiences a full-featuredmultimedia presentation related to the advertisement on the person's WebTV or computer. The tracking module 220 calculates a fee to be sharedbetween the manufacturer, the dealer, and the person buying the carbased on a percentage of the sale. The funds management module canaccept Ecash from the person and either distribute it to all partiesinvolved in the transaction or store the information as debits andcredits in an account database.

[0067] In another example, a person can go to the grocery store and scanUPC codes 10 off items and check the nutrition information or recipes atthe end of the aisle in a kiosk with or without a printer.Alternatively, the person can take the UPC information home and uploadit to their receiver 180 or a CPE, and get information on the product, acoupon, or other benefit redemption information. The store couldoptionally provide a link to the net so the user could upload theinformation to his home computer from the store via the Internetconnection.

[0068] In another example, stuffed animals could be linked to a locationon the network by using a scanner 100. The scanner 100, according tothis example can be a proximity-based device, such as a smart button(like those in Java rings), or almost any other kind of device includingsecurity cards and access devices.

[0069] In another example, a person can scan a 5 year old computermonitor on the person's desk and be immediately routed to a web pagethat offers a list of local service centers for the monitor or technicalinformation about the monitor, such as schematics, instruction manuals,or warranty manuals. The transaction could also result in the personreceiving a rebate offer, a trade-in offer, or recall and safetyinformation. The invention enables manufacturers to maintain contactwith customers for extended periods of time beyond the traditionalperiod of time manufacturers and customers interact. The contact enablesthe manufacturer to collect product usage information that wastraditionally inaccessible. Manufacturers could also use incentiveprograms to get people to scan their products.

[0070] The invention provides a method for allowing the informationproviders 600 to electronically receive codes 10 to embed in theadvertisements. It also allows the publishers of the advertisements,such as newspaper and magazine companies, to print their own ad codesand share this information with the portal server 200. The inventioncontemplates using an enhanced code in the ads containing information onthe identity of the publication and the product and enables thepublishers of the ads to share in the flow-through profits of atransaction even though they may not provide any products. The inventionfurther enables simple marketers and catalogue providers to operate withreduced infrastructure by including information in the code 10 whichpoints to portal-operated e-commerce stores or to themanufacturer/distributor's e-commerce store.

[0071] Reprints of copyrighted material could also be a service theportal server 200 provides to authors. Authors may embed a code 10 intheir book or article. A user scanning the code 10 could receive a copyof the entire article or related articles or books or information for anappropriate fee. The invention provides authors with an inexpensivemethod for collecting fees that are typically very small. A copyrightservice portal server could credit the author's account by pennies oreven fractions of pennies per downloaded page via an existing e-commerceservice or another portal server. Fees associated with accessing anddownloading moderately and expensively priced items, such as CDs andnewsletters, can be handled in a similar fashion.

[0072] The invention further contemplates setting up medical testingdevices to operate with the system. A body monitor capable of trackingmedical information regarding the person's then existing medicalcondition could communicate this information periodically or when aparameter is so indicated or satisfied. The system of the inventionfeatures the ability to combine wired and wireless raw data with userinput, state information, and cookie information, at the portal server200. The portal server 200 directs and channels the information based onthe user personal profile information. The base information could be acode that is scanned or is embedded in a device that adds the baseinformation to information collected by the body monitor. The link atthe portal server 200 may be dynamically moved and a new version of thebody monitor's embedded code or a new set of parameters may bedownloaded from a location on the network.

[0073] The invention also contemplates using the system to collect alarmand appliance information from household items. The system includes acentral receiver capable of receiving radio frequency or infraredsignals. A raw data stream, pointer information, and state informationmay be transmitted from the household item to the receiver. The receivercommunicates the information to the portal server. The portal server cancombine the information with a cookie and use the pointer information tosecurely send it to the manufacturer's web site.

[0074] The system executing a method of the invention may have severalmodes of operation, including collect and store, collect and execute,and collect and process then execute. The user sets the mode accordingto the user personal profile information. The user interface of thescanner, settings on the receiver and software settings on the CPE 300or the portal server 200 may also be combined with the user personalprofile information to set the mode.

[0075] Existing remote control devices such as television remotecontrols can be modified to scan and transmit the code 10 to a receiver180 such as a set top box. In one embodiment, the code 10 would bescanned and embedded after a specific sequence of standard codes thatcould be stripped out by the receiver 180. For example, in collect andstore mode, pressing a predetermined sequence of buttons on a remotecontrol will activate the scan mode of the remote. Once activated, theremote control can be used to collect and store a code 10 from amagazine advertisement, for example. The user would then point theremote at the set top box and depress a single key or sequence of keysto transmit the code information.

[0076] Information such as multi-media information sequences 500, may betransmitted to a CPE 300, or any other receiver 180 connected to thenetwork. The receiver 180 and a local CPE 300 could be combined into asingle unit. The receiver 180 could be a dumb or smart device, embeddedor stand alone. The CPE could be a PC or could be omitted or replaced byonline processing or by a Web TV. The receiver 180 and scanner 100 ofthe invention can be combined and included as part of an enhanced WebTV.

[0077] In one embodiment of a system for performing a method of theinvention, the system enables initiating a communication from a printedmedium containing provider information across a network, the systemcomprising:

[0078] a scanner for receiving data from the printed medium, the datacomprising link information corresponding to the provider information,the scanner comprising

[0079] a memory;

[0080] a user interface for receiving user input information, the userinput information capable of being stored in the memory; and

[0081] a communications bridge in communication with the network;

[0082] a receiver in communication with the scanner, the receivercapable of receiving and communicating the link information and the userinput information via the network and receiving and playing a multimediainformation sequence; and

[0083] a portal server in communication with the scanner and with thereceiver via the network, the portal server capable of receiving thelink information and the user input information, selecting themultimedia information sequence corresponding to the link informationand the user input information, and transmitting the multimediainformation sequence via the network to the receiver.

[0084] The data may be machine-readable code. The machine-readable codemay be a barcode, an enhanced barcode, a new enhanced code, a dynamiccode, and or a high-density barcode. The machine-readable code mayfurther comprise publication information or personal securityinformation or a provider security information. At least onemachine-readable code may be stored in a code file. The code file may bestored in the scanner memory.

[0085] The link information may be a universal resource locator, anInternet address information, a trademark information, a source oforigin, an organization name, a product name, a service name, a benefitredemption information, a provider defined information, a user personalprofile information, a user interest information, a server commandinformation, a customer premises equipment preference information, andan alphanumeric sequence printed in form of a machine-readable code.

[0086] The alphanumeric sequence may be assigned by a provider of theprovider information. The provider information may be extracted from thealphanumeric sequence and translated into a network address at theportal server. The system may also comprise a link table capable oftranslating the alphanumeric sequence into a network address. Thealphanumeric sequence may be one of a UPC or an ISBN number.

[0087] The system may further comprise a plurality of link information.The scanner and receiver may be combined into a single unit. The scannermay be further capable of routing the link information and the userinput information to the network in response to a user request via theuser interface.

[0088] The communications bridge may be capable of sending the linkinformation and/or the user input information to the receiver or theportal server.

[0089] The scanner may be a hand-held device. The hand-held device maybe wireless. The portal server may be accessible via the network to anetwork user and/or accessible exclusively by a provider of information.The user input information may comprise one or more of a user personalprofile information, or a user interest information. The scanner may becapable of storing a plurality of data. The user input information maybe selected from the group consisting of an advertising authorization, atransaction authorization, and a user personal profile information. Thescanner may be a remote control, a mouse, a cellular telephone, a pager,a personal digital assistant, or a personal computer.

[0090] The user interface may be a voice activated system, a keypad, ora keyboard. The communications bridge may be either of an infraredcommunications system, a mobile radio communications system, or anIP-based communications system. The network may be the Internet, anIntranet, or an Extranet.

[0091] The scanner may be an enhanced existing electronic device, a TVremote control, a mouse, a cell phone, a pager, a PC card device, apalmtop, a calculator, a key chain, a pen, an identification card, asmart card, a hand held GPS device, a desktop or laptop computer, adigital appliance, or a microprocessor-based device.

[0092] The portal server may further comprise a tracking module capableof tracking the link information corresponding to the user and apercentage of a fee to be charged to the information provider. The feemay be based on at least one of the selected multimedia informationsequence, a number and frequency of the link information received by theportal server corresponding to a particular information provider, or atransaction value when the selected multimedia information sequencegenerates a transaction.

[0093] The multimedia information sequence may be advertising ortransaction information. The user input information may further comprisea user personal profile information.

[0094] The portal server may be further capable of tracking a percentageof a fee to be charged to the information provider based on the selectedmultimedia information sequence and the user personal profileinformation.

[0095] The user input information may comprise at least one userinterest information. The portal server may further be capable ofauctioning the user interest information to an information provideraccording to a user defined auction criteria in the user personalprofile information. The user personal profile information may be storedon the portal server.

[0096] The portal server may be further capable of tracking a percentageof a fee to be charged to the information provider based on the selectedmultimedia information sequence and the user interest information. Thescanner and the customer premise equipment device may embody a singledevice. The customer premises equipment may be either of a television, aset top box, a computer, a cell telephone, a remote control, a personaldigital assistant, an integrated PC-TV device, or a pager. Themultimedia sequence information may be one or more of textual, audio, orvideo information.

[0097] The system may further comprise a receiver in communication withthe communications bridge. The machine-readable code may changedynamically. The tracking module may be located in either of thescanner, the receiver, or the portal server.

[0098] In a preferred embodiment, the tracking module is capable oftracking one or more of the link information, the user inputinformation, a percentage of a fee to be paid back to a user of thesystem and to a manager of the portal server, according to the userpersonal profile information.

[0099] The portal server may further comprise a provider managementmodule for controlling the duration and frequency of multimedia sequenceinformation independent of scan generated transactions and for billingthe information provider a fee for presenting the multimedia sequenceinformation.

[0100] The scanner may maintain a clock for synchronizing scan relatedinformation which may be transmitted along with the user inputinformation. Either of the scanner, the receiver, or the portal servermay maintain a provider management module capable of

[0101] controlling the multimedia sequence information;

[0102] tracking the duration and frequency of the displayed multimediainformation as part of the sequence at the receiver, wherein thesequence is in part provided by an information provider via the network;

[0103] billing the information provider a fee for displaying theprovided multimedia information as part of the sequence; and

[0104] tracking a percentage of the fee which will be paid back to anowner of the receiver.

[0105] The system may further comprise an interactivity feature forselectively accessing the multimedia sequence information by a user atany time via an interactivity button of the scanner. The interactivityfeature may be capable of accessing an application as part of thesequence provided by an information provider to maintain a transactionbetween a user and the information provider.

[0106] The portal server may be capable of controlling one or more ofthe transaction, a number of transactions between the user and theinformation provider and a number of interactions between the user andthe information provider. The portal server may be further capable ofbilling the information provider a fee for maintaining either of thecontrolled number of transactions or the controlled number theinteractions. The portal server may be further capable of tracking apercentage of the fee which will be paid back to an owner of thescanner. The transaction may be either of catalog shopping or apurchase.

[0107] The link information may include a network address information(e.g. an IP address). The network address information may point to afile containing executable code. Any one or more of the scanner, thereceiver, or the portal server may contain at least one link table. Anyone or more of the scanner, the receiver, or the portal server maycontain additional information or downloaded executable code andintelligence that could supplement the code with an interactive responseof the person using the system. The additional information may comprisethe person's identifying information, name, address, credit card(s)information, and related information.

[0108] The code may further be capable of containing personalinformation and reorder information printed by the provider, whereby thepersonal information is validated against the user personal profileinformation before a reorder or another transaction is allowed toproceed. The code may be an information-only type capable of linking toan information page. The code may be a universal product code (UPC). Thecode may be routed based on any of the scanned information incombination with the cookie information, the person's interactiveresponses from the user input information, the person's location orother demographic information and the portal server databaseinformation. The code may be a reorder code, whereby reordering of aproduct may be activated by scanning the code, recognizing it as thereorder code, and maintaining a transaction via the portal server suchthat a percentage of a fee for the reorder is maintained by a trackingmodule. The tracking module may also maintain a percentage of a feecorresponding to revenue sharing with the person originating thetransaction.

[0109] The code types may include a phone number, a business card,service information, benefit redemption information, a rebate, a coupon,a literature, or general information category of interest to a person orinformation provider. The code may be uploaded to either of the scanner,the receiver, or the portal server once or alternatively may be sentlocally or with cookie and security information from anywhere in thenetwork.

[0110] The processing of the collected codes may be done at a timedifferent from reading and scanning the printed medium. The code may bea UPC code, whereby the user is directed to a provider via the linktable without any additional codes. One or more of the scanner, thereceiver, or the portal server may maintain code templates forinteractivity, transaction information, authorization information,references to the publisher, media originator, ad placement, date ofpublication, dealer, reseller or distributor. One or more of theseelements may further maintain a tracking module working in conjunctionwith a statistics module collecting the scanned information on the basisof code types used in scanning the provider information and collectingdemographic information relating to the user personal profileinformation, link information, and user input information. The trackingmodule may be capable of tracking, redirecting, and targeting usage ofthe codes by different information providers based on the content of theprinted information.

[0111] A person using the system may choose to publish the fact of thescan, thereby allowing a competitor to bid for the right to display tothe person more information about the competitor's comparable product ora transaction, based upon the user interest information.

[0112] The system may be in communication with at least one digitalcopyright database corresponding to physical published products bearingthe code in tangible format, whereby the scan directs a person wantingto copy the published product to the copyright database via the portalserver, and the portal server tracks fees based on the copy and iscapable of suggesting topically related published products. The portalserver may also be capable of monitoring xerographic equipment connectedto the network for the processing of the code, which then activates theaccess to the copyrighted materials database. The code may be anintelligent watermark capable of carrying identifying, distribution, andfee related information on a physical published product.

[0113] Any one or more of the scanner, the receiver, the portal server,or the provider may be capable of allowing either the informationprovider or an owner-publisher of printed medium to track scannedprinted medium impressions to execution and to collect demographicinformation according to the user personal profile information. Thistracking feature may track the percentage of e-commerce transactionsoriginating from a specific publication, provider, or specific type ofpublication. The tracking feature may further track the percentage of afee to be paid back to the owner-publisher of the printed medium basedon the number of impressions.

[0114] The receiver may be a customer premises equipment, a computer, asimple buffer, a direct link, a television, a cell-phone, a pager, a settop box, a PC-TV device, a VCR, a DVD player, an appliance, or any otherelectronic device.

[0115] The portal server may comprise one or multiple sites where theprocessing of the codes takes place. The portal server may allow centralmanagement, assignment, and control of the codes and code types andprovider information. The portal server may allow advertisers to theportal server, print media owners, and information providers to have asingle common database of links for print and electronic transactions.The portal server may maintain a fee tracking module for trackingcharges based on an ad or a transaction originating on the network viathe portal server. The fee tracking module may also track fees relatingto e-commerce transactions originating from the scan.

[0116] The portal server may further maintain a provider managementmodule and a statistics module for tracking and maintaining advertisingand transactions generated from the providers but originatingindependent of a scan, based on user personal profile information.

[0117] The system may enable the advertisers to broadcast providerinformation to the portal server users according to the user personalprofile information or general portal configuration.

[0118] The provider management module may be capable of providingfeed-back to the information providers regarding the effectiveness ofthe provider printed information, and allowing for flexible, real-timemessage tuning.

[0119] The portal server may further maintain an indigraphics module forproviding the user personal profile information management functions andfor publishing auction-oriented information based on the user personalprofile and user interest information. The indigraphics module mayoperate in conjunction with a bid tracking module collecting the userpersonal profile information corresponding to bidding users who scannedor expressed interest via the user interest information, whereby the bidtracking module tracks bids placed by bidding users according topublished auction information and tracks a percentage of a fee to bepaid back to the publisher of the auction information and a mediapublisher who printed, published, or originated the bid.

[0120] The portal server may maintain a code management module allowingthe information providers to electronically set and maintain codes, andthe corresponding link information.

[0121] The code management module may allow the media providers tocreate and print their own codes and share the code information with theportal server. One or more of the scanner, the receiver, and the portalserver in the system may maintain the ability to dynamically change thelink or a link table at the portal and to effect a download of a newversion of a code or a new set of templates or a new link. Themachine-readable code may be a universal product code (UPC) or an ISBNcode. The portal server may be capable of selecting the multimediasequence information based on the link information containing any one ormore of a producer name, a distributor name, or a product name, andbased on a provider preference link accessible to the provider.

[0122] The invention further contemplates a method for communicatingmultimedia information via a network connecting a scanner, a portalserver, and a customer premises equipment, wherein the communication isactivated via a printed medium, the method comprising the steps of:

[0123] scanning a machine-readable code containing a link informationcorresponding to a provider information from the printed medium using ascanner;

[0124] storing the machine-readable code in a memory;

[0125] extracting the link information from the machine readable code inthe memory;

[0126] obtaining and storing a user input information corresponding tothe provider information in the memory;

[0127] sending the link information and the user input information tothe portal server via the network;

[0128] receiving the link information and the user input information atthe portal server;

[0129] selecting a multimedia information sequence corresponding to thelink information and the user input information;

[0130] sending the multimedia information sequence to the receiver viathe network;

[0131] receiving and storing the multimedia information sequence at thereceiver; and

[0132] playing the multimedia information sequence via the receiver.

[0133] In an embodiment, the invention comprises a method forcommunicating multimedia information via a network, wherein thecommunication is activated via a printed medium, a system for performingthe method comprising:

[0134] a scanner for machine-readable code containing a link informationcorresponding to a provider information depicted on the printed medium,the scanner being connected to the network, the scanner containing

[0135] a memory;

[0136] a user interface for obtaining user input information capable ofbeing stored in the memory, the user input information corresponding tothe provider information;

[0137] a communications bridge for sending the link information and theuser input information via the network;

[0138] a portal server in communication with the scanner via thenetwork, the portal server capable of

[0139] receiving the link information and the user input information;

[0140] selecting a multimedia information sequence corresponding to thelink information and the user input information; and

[0141] sending the multimedia information sequence via the network; and

[0142] a customer premises equipment in communication with the portalserver, the customer premises equipment capable of receiving themultimedia information sequence and playing the multimedia informationsequence.

[0143] In another embodiment, the invention comprises a method forcommunicating multimedia information via a network, wherein thecommunication is activated via a printed medium, a system for performingthe method comprising:

[0144] a user device capable of connecting to the network, the userdevice containing a scanner and a storage device for machine-readablecode containing a link information corresponding to a providerinformation depicted on the printed medium;

[0145] a user interface for obtaining user input information capable ofbeing stored in the storage device, the user input informationcorresponding to the provider information;

[0146] a communications bridge for sending the link information and theuser input information via the network;

[0147] a display device for receiving multimedia information sequenceand playing the multimedia information sequence; and

[0148] a portal server in communication with the user device via thenetwork, the portal server capable of receiving the link information andthe user input information, selecting a multimedia information sequencecorresponding to the link information and the user input information,and sending the multimedia information sequence via the network.

[0149] In yet another embodiment, the invention comprises a method forcommunicating multimedia information via a network, wherein thecommunication is activated via a tangible medium, a system forperforming the method comprising:

[0150] a user device capable of connecting to the network, the userdevice containing

[0151] a transducer and a storage device for machine-readable codecontaining a link information corresponding to a provider informationdepicted on the printed medium;

[0152] a user interface for obtaining user input information capable ofbeing stored in the storage device, the user input informationcorresponding to the provider information;

[0153] a communications bridge for sending the link information and theuser input information via the network;

[0154] a display device for receiving multimedia information sequenceand playing the multimedia information sequence; and

[0155] a portal server in communication with the user device via thenetwork, the portal server capable of receiving the link information andthe user input information, selecting a multimedia information sequencecorresponding to the link information and the user input information,and sending the multimedia information sequence via the network.

[0156] In this embodiment of the system, the user device may be eitherof a proximity-based device capable of activating a smart button or acontact-based device.

[0157] The present invention may be embodied in other specific formswithout departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and,accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, ratherthan to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of theinvention.

1. A method for managing a domain name service based on initiating acommunication from an object containing provider information via anetwork connecting a scanner, a portal server, and a receiver, themethod comprising the steps of: scanning a machine-readable codecontaining a link information corresponding to the provider informationfrom the object using the scanner; storing the machine-readable code ina memory; extracting the link information from the machine readable codein the memory; obtaining and storing a user input informationcorresponding to the provider information in the memory; sending thelink information and the user input information to the portal server viathe network; receiving the link information and the user inputinformation at the portal server; selecting a multimedia informationsequence corresponding to the link information and the user inputinformation; sending the multimedia information sequence to the receivervia the network; receiving and storing the multimedia informationsequence at the receiver; and playing the multimedia informationsequence via the receiver.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the portalserver further comprises a code tracking module for tracking at leastone of the data, a link table entry, embedded template calls forinteractivity, references to a publisher, a media originator, an adplacement, a date of publication, a dealer, or other providerinformation, licensing fees corresponding to licensing at least one ofthe data, a link table entry or a machine readable code to thirdparties, advertising used in connection with the codes, and demographicsor indigraphics corresponding to the use of the codes.
 3. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the portal server further comprises a transactiontracking module in communications with one of the scanner or thereceiver, the transaction tracking module being capable of trackingpurchasers based on transaction size and frequency and matching the sizeand frequency to a scanner device such that the device cost issubsidized based on the size and frequency of the transaction.
 4. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the portal server further comprises a creditcard module in communication with one of the scanner, the receiver, orthe portal server, the credit card module being capable of at least oneof the steps of tracking transactions and corresponding referrals,accessing electronically credit limits for the transactions, trackingthe size and frequency of purchases and corresponding purchasers,communicating in a two-way manner, obtaining credit and balanceinformation and maintaining transactions.
 5. The method of claim 1wherein the portal server further comprises an affinity informationtracking module, the module maintaining at least one of benefitredemption, frequent flyer, or affinity information.
 6. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the object is a yellow pages publication.
 7. The methodof claim 1 wherein the portal server is further capable of tracking feescorresponding to transactions initiated via a scan whereby everyonealong the consumption and distribution food chains gets paid apercentage of the transaction.
 8. The method of claim 8 wherein the foodchain includes portal providers, hardware manufacturers, bandwidthcarriers, media companies, ad firms, persons placing the ad, storeswhere the transaction was initiated, information providers, and anyother parties facilitating the transaction.
 9. The method of claim 1 theportal server further comprises a transaction tracking module incommunications with either of the scanner or the receiver, whereby thetransaction tracking module is capable of tracking one or more of thepurchasers or e-commerce transactions based on transaction size andfrequency and matching the size and frequency to a scanner device suchthat a second product or service such that a cost of the second productor service is subsidized based on the size and frequency of thetransaction initiated via a scan.
 10. The method of claim 1 wherein thedata comprises a machine-readable code containing any digitalinformation including executable code, templates, or other digitalcontent comprising a video, audio, or text data.